Venezuelan state-run cement plant to begin production next month

Production at Venezuela’s state-owned Cerro Azul cement plant is expected to commence this September. The plant, which is located in El Pinto del Municipio Piar in Monagas state, has been built with the help of Iran. It will have a production capacity of 1 million tpa, which it is hoped will meet demand in the country and contribute to Venezuela’s ‘Gran Misión Vivienda’ housing programme.

“We are now waiting for the arrival of the electricity line, which will guarantee a sufficient energy supply so that work can begin at the plant without further delays. The plant is almost ready. We hope that cement production can begin in September,” stated Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

Paul Maxwell-Cook looks at the improvements to infrastructure and the developments in trading relations that are spurring growth in Colombia’s cement industry. This article is an abridged version of the full article, which appeared in the February 2012 issue of World Cement.